​Walking With Our Neighbors Towards Hope

As our church has committed to walking alongside our community as we move forward after the devastation of the July 4th flood, I find myself leaning into learning more about trauma-informed care. Many people carry untold stories of life-altering pain. Trauma, no matter its origins, shapes not only the mind, but also the body, relationships and spiritual life. I recently read some excerpts from Understanding Trauma and Resilience by Evan Marbury, a pastor and counselor. Today, I am sharing some from his book that helped me.

For Christians committed to embodying the compassion of Christ, understanding trauma is not optional; it is a necessary expression of love. Jesus consistently drew near to the wounded, responding with tenderness, protection and truth. To follow him faithfully requires that we become communities where those who suffer are seen and gently accompanied toward healing.

Understanding Trauma 
A trauma-informed Christian recognizes that wounded people are not problems to fix but image bearers whose bodies and nervous systems have adapted for survival. Trauma changes how we perceive safety, trust others and experience God. Without this awareness, churches may unintentionally harm individuals through shame, spiritual cliches or expectations that healing must happen quickly.

Understanding trauma invites us to slow down, honor the pace of the wounded, and cultivate spaces marked by safety, predictability and patient discipleship. It also deepens our theology: Lament becomes a richer practice, the lifeline through which God meets his people in the dark.

The Importance of Resilience
Resilience—the capacity to maintain a God-centered self-directedness—is central to Christian formation. Yet resilience is not merely self-manufactured; it arises through supportive relationships and the presence of God. Understanding resilience helps the church proclaim not only that trauma holds deep impact, but also that God is able to restore, strengthen and rebuild. It shifts our focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you—and how can we walk with you toward hope?”

People that are informed about trauma and resilience become a living testimony of the gospel. We refuse to minimize suffering, yet we boldly declare that suffering doesn’t have the final word. We recognize that healing is often slow, nonlinear and sacred. And we embody the truth that Jesus is near to the brokenhearted, inviting his people into a journey where grace rewrites stories of harm into stories of courage, redemption and renewed life. When Christians understand trauma and resilience, we more faithfully mirror the heart of Christ, becoming a community where wounded people learn not only to survive but to flourish.
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​We are an Easter People..."We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song" is a famous quote from St. Pope John Paul II. 

It encourages Christians to live with joy and hope rather than despair, emphasizing that faith in the resurrection enables a life of love, even amidst suffering.

​Who Will You Invite To Worship With You On Easter Sunday? He is not here! He is risen, indeed!
We are Easter people.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of the gospel.
We believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose on the third day.
This is the foundation of our faith and if we want nonbelievers to hear the gospel, Easter is a great Sunday to invite them!

Invite your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors join us this Easter Sunday.
We would be honored to have the privilege of sharing with everyone the promise of the hope in Christ and His resurrection!

 Easter Worship
Sunrise Service 7:00am
Location: The Bolivian Cross at Light on the Hill at mount Wesley
(610 Methodist Encampment.)
*Shuttle bus will begin running at 6:15am at the Light on the Hill parking lot to take people up to the cross. The last shuttle will run at 6:45am.
​
You are welcome to walk up to the cross, but please do not drive your vehicles up to the cross.

 Traditional Worship 8:15 & 10:45am
Location: Kerrville First United Methodist Church Sanctuary
(321 Thompson Dr.)

 Contemporary Worship 9:30am
Location: Kerrville First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
(321 Thompson Dr.)

Who Will You Invite To Worship With You On Easter Sunday?
He is not here! He is risen, indeed!

We are Easter people.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of the gospel.
We believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose on the third day.
This is the foundation of our faith and if we want nonbelievers to hear the gospel, Easter is a great Sunday to invite them!

Invite your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors join us this Easter Sunday.

We would be honored to have the privilege of sharing with everyone the promise of the hope in Christ and His resurrection!

 Easter Worship Sunrise Service 7:00am
Location: The Bolivian Cross at Light on the Hill at mount Wesley (610 Methodist Encampment.)
*Shuttle bus will begin running at 6:15am at the Light on the Hill parking lot to take people up to the cross. The last shuttle will run at 6:45am.
**You are welcome to walk up to the cross, but please do not drive your vehicles up to the cross.

 Traditional Worship 8:15 & 10:45am
Location: Kerrville First United Methodist Church Sanctuary
(321 Thompson Dr.)

 Contemporary Worship 9:30am
Location: Kerrville First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall
(321 Thompson Dr.)
​

We appreciate all the support, help, prayers, and team effort involved to provide for our community.

I am praying for you this morning...

How bright is your light these days? Is it a flicker? Is it still trying to start? Does it reflect and illuminate God's love to everyone around you?

I've heard it said that sometimes the only Bible some people will read, is the life and example we live.

Think about that. What kind of example is your life to others? Do others see Jesus in you, and me?

Keep your light shining, with humility and sincerity.

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven."
–Matthew 5:16

Dear Friends,
​
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
May the peace, joy, and love of Christ's birth fill your heart and home this Christmas season. Wishing you a blessed and Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with God's grace.

An Abundance of Gratitude and Shared Blessings
Words cannot truly express the depth of our thanks. Ray and I want to extend our deepest, most sincere gratitude to each one of you for your faithful and unwavering support throughout this past year. Because of your incredible generosity and prayer-ful partnership, the ministries here in Costa Rica are doing well!

Here is a glimpse of the impact your love has made:
The children’s home is growing and has now begun construction on its third house! To date we have had the privilege of ministering to over 160 children. The clinic is expanding its capacity and will be welcoming a full-time doctor starting in January. We are overjoyed to be building two new churches and a parsonage in the country's northeastern sector, wonderfully supported by dedicated mission teams from churches in the States. Enrollment at both the Methodist school and seminary is up, a fantastic sign of growing faith and education!

Looking Ahead to 2026
As we look forward to the coming year and all the exciting new work it will bring, we also want to share a practical challenge. Our personal vehicles, which are essential for the daily ministry, are getting quite old. Ray drives a 2006 Tundra, and Lidia has a 2007 Sequoia. We truly love our Toyotas—they are workhorses that stand up to the ruggedness of the Costa Rican roads, and parts are easy to find. However, we have now reached the point where the yearly maintenance and repair costs are exceeding the cars' value. We are prayerfully moving forward to begin a Car Replacement Fund. The wonderful folks at the Methodist Church in Uvalde are assisting us by receiving and setting aside financial gifts for this specific purpose. Gifts for that purpose can be designated “Zirkel Car Fund.”

Family News and Continued Prayer Requests
Our family is doing well. Sarah is just days away from graduating with both of her master’s degrees! (MDIV & MBA) Please continue to pray with us for God to open the right door for her future career, as she is actively seeking employment. Emma begins her final semester in her master’s program in January and will start working part-time in a hospital Emergency Room in College Station. We are so proud of her dedication!

Ray’s recent health issues have persisted, and he has undergone a variety of medical exams at Houston Methodist. (A few more to go!) While he is feeling somewhat better, the mystery of the "good days and bad days" continues. We ask each of you to please keep praying for a clear diagnosis and complete healing as we place this fully in God’s hands.

As the year ends, we want to thank you for your incredible generosity and investment in our lives and ministry. We are grateful for each one and look forward to seeing many of you in the States over the holidays or in Costa Rica during 2026.

Praying your Christmas season is richly filled with the peace, love, and profound joy found only in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

With Deepest Love and Gratitude,
Ray and Lidia

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We’re grateful to be featured in a recent article highlighting the partnership between Light on the Hill and the San Antonio Food Bank, where nearly 36,000 pounds of food were distributed to families across the Hill Country.


We praise God for the hands and hearts in our ministry who continue to serve others with love and compassion.

Last Saturday volunteers from KFUMC, St John Lutheran Church in Boerne, and Firth Lutheran Church in Floresville worked together to correct drainage problems at a house that flooded on July 4th.

The St John’s Lutheran Church (Boerne) volunteers have been working with KFUMC’s Emergency Response Team regularly for six weeks, and last weekend they brought supplies for our ERT trailer!  


Thank you so much to the St John’s congregation for the tool belts, batteries, battery chargers, step ladder, and personal protection supplies.  We are so blessed to have the chance to meet and work with these servants! 

Donate warm clothes to help a neighbor this winter.